A casino – or casin – is a large place where people can gamble and have fun. It is often a very glamorous place, with opulent furnishings and overflowing bars. Casinos can be found around the world, from Las Vegas and Macau to China and Monaco. The best casinos combine high stakes with high luxury. Here, you can find everything from opulent suites to world-class spas, but the centerpiece is the roulette wheel and blackjack table.

The biggest casinos are sprawling complexes that rival a small town in size. The second largest in America, Foxwoods in Connecticut, offers 38 restaurants and a shopping mall, but its real draw is its vast casino, which has more than 150,000 square feet of tables, slots and other games. The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation also operates Caesars Palace in New Jersey, a Roman-style palace with red and gold flourishes that was once home to legendary actress Marlene Dietrich.

Most modern casinos have a combination of physical security and a specialized surveillance department, which works in close partnership to monitor activities at the tables and slot machines. Some have catwalks in the ceiling over the casino floor, allowing staff to look down through one-way glass directly on players’ actions. Throughout history, gambling has been popular in many societies and cultures. For some, it is simply a form of entertainment, but for others, it can be the path to riches and glory. The Monte Carlo Casino is a famous example, having featured in many books and films, including Ben Mezrich’s Busting Vegas.